Harold Ramis 1944-2014

Harold Ramis; actor, writer, director, ghostbuster…has passed away at the age of 69.

For more than 40 years, Harold Ramis was a leader in comedy. A veteran of the Second City Troupe in Chicago, he was a writer for SCTV and wrote or co-wrote comedy classics such as ANIMAL HOUSE (1978), MEATBALLS (1979), CADDYSHACK (1980), STRIPES (1981), GHOSTBUSTERS (1984), GROUNDHOG DAY (1993), and ANALYZE THIS (1999). He was a frequent collaborator with director Ivan Reitman, and actors Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd.

When he wasn’t writing, Ramis was an accomplished director. His directing credits include CADDYSHACK, NATIONAL LAMPOON’S VACATION (1983), GROUNDHOG DAY, ANALYZE THIS, and THE ICE HARVEST (2005). He occasionally stepped in front of the camera to act, most notably playing Bill Murray’s opposite in STRIPES and two GHOSTBUSTERS films.

His work earned him a BAFTA Award in 1994 for Best Original Screenplay (GROUNDHOG DAY) and he was inducted into the American Screenwriters Association Hall of Fame in 2001.

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As a writer, Harold Ramis had that talent for making us laugh while telling a story at the same time; a rare gift that is seldom seen today. As an actor, it was always a joy to see him play opposite Bill Murray in STRIPES and GHOSTBUSTERS; not only because he was funny, but because he was the perfect yin to Murray’s, and Dan Aykroyd’s yang. In STRIPES, where Murray was irresponsible and off-the-wall, Ramis was the straight-one. And in GHOSTBUSTERS, he was the scientific logic-minded one opposite the craziness of Murray and the child-like innocence of Aykroyd. Character opposites make for great drama and even better storytelling, and Ramis did it perfectly every time. This Blogger and his friends grew up watching GHOSTBUSTERS and STRIPES; instantly recognizing them as their importance as memorable and infinitely quotable films. Ramis was a big part of their successes, and an even bigger part in hearts of people who remember the laughs he brought to our lives. Perhaps what stings the most is that GHOSTBUSTERS and STRIPES were films that we always equated with fun, and now we'll see them with just a hint of sadness. We’ll see him on the other side.